| Quarterback Mark Sanchez will face a tough test against San Francisco's defense, which already has led the 49ers to wins over Aaron Rodgers' Packers and Matthew Stafford's Lions. (US Presswire) |
Jets at 49ers -- Week 4
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. (artificial turf, outdoors)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. (Fox)
Spread: 49ers by 4
Forecast: Partly cloudy, slight chance of rain. Temperature in the upper-60s.
Records: Jets (Overall: 2-1, AFC East: 1-1); 49ers (Overall: 2-1, NFC West: 0-0)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- December 7, 2008 Jets 14, 49ers 24); October 17, 2004 Jets 22, 49ers 14. Series record: 49ers lead 9-2.
What matters: The Jets need to find a way to make the wildcat effective with QB Tim Tebow. The 49ers have an aggressive defense, and the Jets will need to do something to slow it down. QB Mark Sanchez can’t turn the ball over and he would probably prefer if he didn’t have to engineer another fourth-quarter comeback.
Who matters: CB Kyle Wilson has been tapped to replace CB Darrelle Revis, who is out for the season with a torn ACL. But Wilson has not shown anywhere close to the level of play expected after being the first-round pick in 2010. That's one reason the Jets brought in CB Antonio Cromartie in 2011.
Key matchups: 49ers RB Frank Gore vs. the Jets' front seven. Gore already has 264 yards and is averaging 5.9 yards per carry. The Jets have had a terrible time stopping the run. In the first three games, they have allowed a total of 446 yards, including a 169-yard game by Buffalo’s C.J. Spiller. The Jets also have had a hard time getting their pass rush going, and that won't improve if they can’t stop the run and start forcing teams to throw more.
Injuries of note: CB Darrelle Revis is done for the season with a torn ACL. Stephen Hill (hamstring) is likely out.
Inside stuff: Revis’ talents are so unique that the team gameplans around him, frequently leaving him to cover half the field by himself. Without Revis, they could be in trouble.
Connections: TE Konrad Reuland spent 2011 on the 49ers practice squad. QB Tim Tebow and 49ers S Darcel McBath were in Denver together in 2010. LB Aaron Maybin, CB Ellis Lankster and 49ers S Donte Whitner all played for the Bills in 2009. CB Antonio Cromartie and 49ers S C.J. Spillman both played for the Chargers in 2009. S Yeremiah Bell and WR Ted Ginn, Jr. were both on the Dolphins from 2007-2009. K Nick Folk and 49ers G Leonard Davis played together for the Cowboys from 2007-2009.
Stat you should know: The Jets' defense is 28th overall against the rush. This is not a stat that has to be sitting well with coach Rex Ryan.
Record watch: LB Calvin Pace needs a sack to reach 40 in his career. LB David Harris needs a half sack for 20. TE Dustin Keller needs two touchdowns to pass Johnny Mitchell for fifth on the all-time list for receiving TDs by a TE. He needs three
TDs to pass Anthony Becht for fourth. Keller has 17 touchdowns.
Looking ahead: Improving their record to 3-1 would give the Jets some breathing room as they face the 3-0 Texans in Week 5. To finish out the first half of the season, the Jets will face the Colts at home in Week 6 and travel to New England in Week 7 before coming home to face the Dolphins.
Prediction: 49ers 24, Jets 17
Stay dialed in on the New York Jets by following correspondent Lisa Zimmerman on Twitter @CBSJets and@LisaZimmerman.